Long Beach Cops Shoot, Critically Injure Graffiti-Spraying Teen

A Long Beach, Calif. teenager was critically wounded after police shot him Thursday afternoon at an apartment where he and a group were reportedly spraying graffiti, according to the LA Times.

The 19-year-old, who has not yet been identified by name, was hit by an unknown number of bullets inside the apartment, Long Beach Police Sgt. Megan Zabel said. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

Long Beach police are investigating the incident, Zabel said. The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office is conducting a separate, independent investigation, which is customary in all officer-involved shootings.

The circumstances surrounding the shooting are unclear. The incident comes nearly two years after Miami teenager Israel Hernandez-Llach died after he was stunned in the chest with a Taser. Hernandez-Llach was reportedly tagging a building when approached by police officers.